What is "litema"

Litema (pronounced: /ditʼɪːma/; also spelled Ditema; Singular: Tema, Sesotho for "field") is a form of Sotho mural art composed of decorative geometric patterns, commonly associated with the South Sotho tradition today practised in Lesotho and neighbouring areas of South Africa. Basotho women generate litema on the outer walls of homesteads by means of engraving, painting, relief mouldings and mosaic. Typically the geometric patterns are scratched with a forefinger or hair comb into the wet top layer of fresh clay and dung plaster, and are then painted with natural dyes or, in contemporary times, manufactured paint. Patterns resemble objects from the natural world and most often mimic ploughed fields or depict plant and animal life, sometimes associated with clan totems. Litema are not a permanent facade design, but decay in the sun or may be washed away by a heavy rain. It is common for women of an entire village to apply litema on special occasions such as a wedding or a religious ceremony.